It was a miraculous escape for 24 fishermen as their fibre boat sank in the mid sea off the Ambalappuzha coast on Monday.
Alphonsamma, the country boat, sank while the fishermen on board were engaged in catching fish 12 nautical miles off the coast. Immediately, other boats came to the rescue of the fishermen.
According to the coastal police, the accident occurred at 10.30 a.m. The boat lost balance and began sinking when the catch was being transferred from the net to the boat. Two interceptor boats of the coastal police also reached the spot and got involved in the rescue operations.
Pathrose of Chakkalackal house, Punnapra, is the owner of the boat. Albert, son of the boat owner, said the boat lost balance as they were transferring the catch from the net to the boat.
Out of 24 fishermen, all from Punnapra, 21 were admitted to medical college hospital near here. The fishermen admitted to the hospital are Antony (58), Varghese (30), Johnson (29), Paul (42), Paulose (54), Joseph (31), Ouseph Sunny (52), George (56), Antony (56), John (66), Benedict (52), Yesudas (30), Sebastain (36), Jomichan (29), Yesudas (38), Pushapan (50), Albert (33), Antony (30), Varghese (54), and Biju (22).